Politics & Government

Skyview Park Project Runs Into Opposition from Cost-Conscious Councilor

Councilor Bill Klein believes the conversion of two baseball fields to rectangular sports fields isn't a necessary expense.

The proposed conversion of two baseball fields in Skyview Park took a step forward on Monday night — but not without running into opposition from at least one Inver Grove Heights City Council member.

The council voted 3-1 to pursue $86,000 in grant funding for the project from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. That money would be used to help pay for the in Skyview Park into rectangular fields that could be used for soccer, lacrosse or football. City officials believe the project would cost roughly $192,000 to complete, and could be finished as soon as Aug. 2012. The project would be done in conjunction with nearby roadwork to reduce costs.

City officials said the proposed project has garnered support from the neighborhood, and the Inver Grove Heights soccer and football associations. But on Monday night, two council members expressed concerns about the cost of the project and the cost to maintain and irrigate the rectangular fields, if they were installed.

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“I think we’re spending money just to spend money,” said Councilor Bill Klein, who voted against pursuing the state grant money. “This ain’t a time to be messing around with what we want. It might be time to look at only what we really need.”

Although she ultimately voted to pursue the grant, fellow Councilor Rosemary Piekarski Krech also worried that the cost to irrigate and maintain the two rectangular playing fields — estimated at $15,000 annually — may actually be higher, since the soil in the area is sandy.

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Parks and Recreation Director Eric Carlson has said that shifting demographics in the community and a shortage of rectangular playing fields prompted city officials to consider the project. The growth of the minority communities in Inver Grove Heights means means demand for the baseball fields has declined, city officials have said. The city currently has 29 baseball fields, but only four rectangular fields, Carlson wrote in a memo to the council.

 Under the plan, the Inver Grove Heights Soccer Association would contribute $15,000 to pay for a portion of the project, while the Simley Youth Football Association would chip in $5,000.

“We do see a change in use and demographics in the community as far as how many people are playing baseball in the community,” Carlson said at the meeting on Monday.

FRISBEE GOLF COURSE FEES
On Monday night, the council also approved a contract with Fairway Flyerz Discs, Inc. to collect fees for the use of the city’s Frisbee golf course in North and South Valley Parks. Under the new system, Fairway Flyerz will operate a mobile sales unit at the park seven days a week from April to October and will charge $5 for daily admission to the course or $30 for an annual pass. Visitors who are 21-years-old or younger would be allowed onto the course free of charge.

Fairway Flyerz would retain 50 percent of the admission sales and all revenue from retail sales. The remaining money will be funneled into a separate city fund and will be used to pay for improvements to the Frisbee golf course — including new benches, garbage cans and baskets.


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